We are very pleased and proud to report that on January 5, 2022 we celebrated our 24th year of selling on eBay!  Please check our many years of eBay feedback.  Thanks to you for your continuing support!

IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT PURCHASING CHEAPLY MADE ASIAN DAMPERS.  THOSE MAY LOOK SIMILAR TO OURS, BUT THE MATERIAL USED IN THE CHEAP ASIAN DAMPERS IS NOT THE SAME AS OURS AND THOSE CHEAP DAMPERS FREQUENTLY MELT OR CRACK.  WE SELL OUR DAMPERS TO SEVEN MAJOR AMP MANUFACTURERS FOR USE ON THEIR EQUIPMENT BEFORE IT LEAVES THE FACTORY.  PURCHASE WITH CONFIDENCE HERE.  PLEASE CHECK OUR 22 YEARS OF EBAY FEEDBACK.

NOTE: THIS SoniKLEER DAMPER DESIGN HAS BEEN UNDER DEVELOPMENT BY US SINCE MID-2005.  THIS IS OUR OWN DESIGN AND AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING OF MANY DESIGNS IN DAMPERS, THESE HAVE BEEN FABRICATED TO OUR SPECIFICATIONS.

THESE DAMPERS ARE FAR MORE EXPENSIVE TO PRODUCE THAN OUR OTHER DAMPER DESIGNS AND HAVE BEEN FABRICATED FOR THOSE AUDIOPHILES AND MUSICIANS WHO WANT TO GO THE NEXT STEP ABOVE OUR STANDARD DAMPERS.

THIS IS AN AUCTION FOR FOUR SoniKLEER HIGH MASS VACUUM TUBE DAMPERS.  The winner of this auction will receive four dampers for each item won at a cost of just $24.99 for the complete set of four dampers.  If you need more than four dampers, just bid for more than one set. Shipping on extra sets shipped in the same package is free both in the U.S. and Internationally after postage is paid for the first set.

These dampers are designed to fit 9 pin vacuum tubes.  Most audiophiles and musicians use two dampers on each tube.  These vacuum tube dampers are constructed of aerospace quality silicone with a temperature rating of over 400 degrees F.

So this set of four dampers will improve the sound of two tubes if you use two dampers per tube as recommended, or improve the sound of four tubes if you would like to try one per tube.  This is one of the easiest, lowest cost ways available to improve the sound of your system.

The use of these vibration dampers is especially important for audiophiles as the small vibrations in the listening room can adversely affect the quality of the sound from the system.  These dampers are also very important for musicians because the levels of vibration in your amps while performing, are even greater than in audiophile amps.

These heavy-duty high density dampers will fit the following and other similar size 9 pin vacuum tubes such as:  12AX7/ECC83, 12AU7/ECC82, 12AT7/ECC81, 12BH7, 12BY7, EL84/6BQ5, 6922, 7199, 5687, EF86, EZ81, 6CA4, 7868, etc.

THESE DAMPERS ARE "SIZE SK-SMALL".  I HAVE A TOTAL OVER 30 DIFFERENT SIZES/TYPES TUBE DAMPERS AVAILABLE ON EBAY TO FIT ALMOST ALL TUBES.  PLEASE SEE MY OTHER AUCTIONS FOR OTHER SIZES.

NOTE: FOR MOST FOLKS, OUR "REGULAR" SIZE SMALL DAMPER RINGS WILL BE PERFECT AND WILL COST LESS, BUT IF YOU HAVE A VERY FINE SYSTEM WANT THE VERY MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE FROM YOUR TUBE EQUIPMENT, THEN THESE DAMPERS ARE FOR YOU.

Please read some comments I have received about these dampers from folks who have recently BETA TESTED these dampers for me:

Roger McPhereson writes:

"Thank you for letting me Beta Test these new SoniKLEER dampers.   The improvement was dramatic.  My high-end system has now been tweaked beyond my wildest expectations.  I noticed improvements in the upper mid-range and sound stage was dramatically improved.  I feel previleged to have been asked to test these for you."  Roger McPhereson, Atlanta, GA.

Audiophile Willie Chee writes:

"Hi Sandy, Many thanks letting me test these new SoniKLEER dampers.  My vintage Mcintosh equipment is now even better sonically than I thought possible. the sound stage is enormous!  The equipment is absolutely dead quiet, and "blackness" is greatly improved.  Thanks!   Willie Chee, San Francisco

Guitarist, Sal Owens, of Nashville writes:

"Sandy, I want to let you know that I removed the tube shields in my Blackface Fender and I was blown away by the improvement in the sound!  Sustain is greatly improved and the tonal clarity is not to be believed.  I will recommend these SoniKLEER dampers to all my studio session musician friends in Nashville!  I hope these are available on eBay soon!"  Sal Owens, Nashville, TN

QUESTION:  WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE DAMPERS AND THE ROUNDED EDGE DAMPERS YOU HAVE BEEN SELLING FOR MANY YEARS ON EbAY?

ANSWER:  THESE DAMPERS EACH HAVE OVER 2x THE MASS OF OUR OTHER SIZE SMALL DAMPERS WHICH FIT THESE 9-PIN MINIATURE TUBES.  IF YOU USE TWO OF THESE DAMPERS ON EACH TUBE, YOU WILL HAVE ABOUT 5x THE DAMPENING PROPERTIES THAN IF YOU USE TWO OF OUR REGULAR SIZE SMALL DAMPERS ON THE SAME TUBES.

QUESTION:  IS THE MATERIAL USED IN THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS DIFFERENT THAN THE MATERIAL USED TO FABRICATE YOU REGULAR DAMPERS?

ANSWER:  NO, THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS ARE FABRICATED FROM THE EXACT SAME MATERIAL AS OUR REGULAR DAMPERS.  WE HAVE FOUND THAT THIS SILICONE IS THE VERY BEST MATERIAL FOR DAMPERS.

QUESTION:  CAN I OVER DAMPEN MY TUBES?  WILL THESE DAMPERS "DULL" THE SOUND?

ANSWER:  ABSOUTELY NOT!  YOU DO NOT WANT ANY MICROPHONICS IN YOUR VACUUM TUBES!  THESE DAMPERS WILL PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM DAMPENING TO YOUR TUBES, AND WILL IMPROVE THE SONICS OF EVEN THE FINEST NOS TUBES.

QUESTION:  WHY ARE THESE SO EXPENSIVE? THEY COST ALMOST 6 TIMES THE PRICE OF YOUR REGULAR DAMPERS.

ANSWER:  WE NEEDED TO HAVE SPECIAL MOLDS MADE FOR THESE DAMPERS.  THESE DAMPERS ARE FABRICATED IN RELATIVELY SMALL QUANTITIES ESPECIALLY FOR US TO OUR OWN SPECIFICATIONS.

QUESTION:  ARE THESE NEW SoniKLEER DAMPERS AVAILABLE IN ANY OTHER SIZES BESIDES FOR 9-PIN MINIATURE TUBES?

ANSWER:  NO, NOT AT THIS TIME, ONLY IN THIS SIZE.  WE MAY PRODUCE THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS IN OTHER SIZES IN THE FUTURE, DEPENDING ON THE DEMAND. IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE 8 OTHER SIZES OF REGULAR DAMPERS AVAILABLE ON OUR OTHER EbAY AUCTIONS.

QUESTION:  ARE THESE DAMPERS AVAILABLE IN ANY OTHER COLORS?

ANSWER:  NO, AT THIS TIME THIS RED-ORANGE COLOR IS THE ONLY COLOR AVAILABLE.  IN THE FUTURE, WE MAY BE ABLE TO OFFER THESE DAMPERS IN ANOTHER COLOR, BUT NOT AT THIS TIME.

QUESTION:  SHOULD I GET REMOVE MY REGULAR SILICONE  DAMPERS THAT PUCHASED PREVIOUSLY FROM YOU AND CHANGE TO THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS ON MY 9-PIN MINIATURE TUBES?

ANSWER:  THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE ANSWER...IF YOU ARE TOTALLY HAPPY WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR SYSTEM WITH OUR REGULAR DAMPERS, THERE MAY BE NO REASON TO CHANGE.  THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS WERE DESIGNED FOR FOLKS WHO WANT THE ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE FROM THEIR SYSTEMS.

HOWEVER, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO ADVISE ANYONE AS EACH OF US HAS OUR OWN FEELINGS ABOUT HOW OUR SYSTEMS SHOULD SOUND.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS WILL SOUND DIFFERENT THAN OUR REGULAR DAMPERS AND MOST FOLKS LIKE THEM VERY MUCH.  OUR REGULAR DAMPERS ARE A TERRIFIC VALUE FOR THEIR LOW COST, AND THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS ARE ALSO AN EXCELLENT VALUE SO THE CHOICE ABOUT WHICH DAMPER TO USE IS TRULY A PERSONAL ONE.   YOU MIGHT WISH TO TRY A FEW OF THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS IN YOUR PREAMP FIRST, AND THEN MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THE REST OF YOUR TUBES. THE IMPROVEMENT WHEN YOU GO FROM NO DAMPERS TO OUR REGULAR DAMPERS IS HUGE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR REGULAR DAMPERS AND THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS IS SIGNIFICANT BUT NOT AS GREAT AS WHEN GOING FROM NO DAMPERS TO OUR REGULAR DAMPERS.

...A WORD ABOUT DAMPER THICKNESS

We now have two damper designs availble to fit 9-pin miniature tubes.

1)  Our REGULAR Size SMALL which we have been offering on eBay for many years and which are available on our other eBay auctions.  These are wonderful dampers and at the cost of just $8.99 for a set of 8, are an excellent value as well.

Unlike some other sellers, we only sell one thickness of our REGULAR tube dampers.  We only sell dampers of the heaviest thickness available.  This is because through testing and experimentation, we have determined that in order to obtain the maximum benefit from tube dampers, you need to use the heaviest mass damper available.  Why bother at all if you are not going to get the maximum effect?

2)  These SoniKLEER Size SK-SMALL on this auction which is our newest innovation in damper technology.

NOTE: These SoniKLEER High Density/HIgh Mass dampers will not interfere in any measurable way with the proper dissipation of heat from a vacuum tube when two dampers per tube are used as recommended and the approximately 70 sq. mm area that these dampers cover, will not measurably affect tube cooling.  In fact, these dampers also absorb heat and will contribute to the cooling of the vacuum tube.

NOW...A WORD ABOUT MICROPHONICS

Microphonics is a characteristic of all vacuum tubes to some extent or another, when in use.  Microphonics occur when vibrations (both small and large) to the internal parts of the tube, affect the way those internal components process the electron flow through the tube.  We normally only hear about microphonics on defective tubes or very inexpensive tubes, but the truth is, that microphonics are almost always present even in the best and most expensive tubes.  Normally we do not notice the effects of microphonics with quality tubes, but after listening to your system with these tube dampers installed, you may very well be able to hear the small but important improvements in the sound.

WHAT SIZE AND THICKNESS DAMPER DO I NEED?

As stated earlier, we have learned that there is little point in using a vibration damper with low mass.  Therefore, we are only offering the heaviest mass dampers available.  The tube sizes that these Size SK-SMALL SoniKLEER dampers will fit are listed above.  Please see my other auctions for sizes to fit power output tubes as well as rectifier tubes.

NOTE: THE TUBES SHOWN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS AUCTION.  THEY ARE SHOWN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THESE DAMPERS LOOK WHEN INSTALLED.

Feel free to check my feedback and bid with confidence.  Please email with any questions before bidding.  We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express through PayPal.  NOTE: We also accept your Visa or MasterCard from anywhere in the world via www.BidPay.com  We reserve the right to reject bids from those with negative or hidden feedback. If you fall into this category, please email before bidding! We also reserve the right to declare this auction null and void if eBay is not accessible during the last three hours of this auction.

 

PHOTOGRAPH AND TEXT COPYRIGHT SANDYPHOTO 2007

Copying of photos or text will be reported to eBay and further legal action will be instituted.